Flashes Can't Fire Past Chips

Wednesday, November 10

Mount Pleasant, MI

8 PM

Kent State University

5-5 , 4-2

Central Michigan University

6-4 , 4-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Kent State	14	3	13	0	30
Central Michigan	0	26	14	14	54

11/11/2021 12:36:00 AM | Football

Box Score

MOUNT PLEASANT, MI- The Golden Flashes got out to a quick start but couldn't hold off a hot Central Michigan offense in a 54-30 set back against the Chippewas.

Kent State started FlashFAST on Wednesday night, forcing punts on the first two Central Michigan drives, thanks to a pair of sacks. Kent State wasted little time on offense, as Dustin Crum connected with tight end Kris Leach on a beautiful play fake, he rumbled 37 yards for the game's first score. Nykeim Johnson had a big third down catch on the second drive, setting up a Marquez Cooper score to make it 14-0 Flashes at the end of the first quarter.

Kent State got the game's first turnover off a bobble squib kick by Central Michigan but could do nothing with the bonus possession. The Chippewas' offense kicked it into gear in the second quarter, scoring on all four drives. The Flashes had a pair of second quarter fumbles, both in Chippewa territory as the home team rallied to take a 26-14 lead. Kent State rallied back on the final drive of the half, Andrew Glass drilled a 32-yard field goal to make it a 26-17 game heading into the locker room.

The Flashes would trade scores with the Chips in the third quarter. Crum hooked up with Dante Cephas with a 51-yard TD pass and Marquez Cooper scored for the second time, but Crum was ruled inches short on the ensuing two-point conversion. Central Michigan led 40-30 heading into the fourth.

That would be as close as the Flashes would get, the Chips rode the legs of running back Lew Nichols the III in the fourth. His third touchdown of the game made it 47-30, the Flashes couldn't convert on a fourth-and-short and CMU was able to milk most of the remaining clock. Nichols finished the night with over 200 yards rushing and finished with four touchdowns.

Dustin Crum had another sensational game in his own right, completing 28-of-38 for 322 yards and a pair of scores. Crum hit eight different receivers on the night, led by Dante Cephas' five-catch, 100-yard, one touchdown game. Cooper toted it 21 times for 83 yards and two scores. Nico Bolden had his third straight 12-tackle game to lead the defense.

The loss drops Kent State to 5-5 on the season and 4-2 in the MAC and remain in a tie atop the East Division with Miami. Central Michigan improves to 6-4 on the year and 4-2 in the MAC. The Flashes now revert to traditional Saturday games for the final two regular season contests. First up is a rivalry, Wagon Wheel showdown next Saturday. Kick off from InfoCision is set for noon.